Automatic voltage regulator



July 11, 1939. M. DEBREY 2,165,887

AUTOMATIC VOLTAGE REGULATOR Filed Feb. 26, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 woe/"$0 0 July 11, 1939.

M. DEBREY 65,887

AUTOMATI C VOLTAGE REGULATOR Filed Feb. 26, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 4 27 II a 43 m sadivm A9 MKS (ILA 710% Patented July 11, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Michael Debrey, Burlington, Iowa, assignor to The Simplex Corporation, Burlington, Iowa, a

corporation of Iowa Application February 26, 1937, Serial No. 127,998

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved automatic voltage regulator.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic voltage regulator of the vibratory type which is intended for use with generators and which will employ circuit making and breaking means of such construction that side wipe and rubbing effect will not take place during the circuit making and breaking opera- H tion.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic voltage regulator employing a lamp connected in an electric circuit with a generator or alternator and said voltage regulator so that said lamp will flicker or flash intermittently, to indicate a normal operating condition, said lamp being adapted to remain extinguished or On continuously for indicating abnormal operating conditions.

go A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic voltage regulator wherein a unitary contact member is utilized, said contact member constituting the main moving element of the device and also providing mounting means 25 for certain of the switching means employed.

And the invention seeks, as a still further object, to provide. a device of this character which will be extremely flexible and durable in use, and which may be installed with the greatest facility.

30 Other objects of the invention will become apparent hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View of my improved voltage regulator and showing the control 5 head thereof in elevation.

Figure 2 is an end view of the control head of my improved voltage regulator.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of said control head.

40 Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of the contact member employed.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral I indicates generally the control head of my improved automatic voltage 45 regulator. It is believed that, by first describing the control head, an understanding of my invention will be greatly facilitated.

The control head I includes a base 2 which is adapted to be associated horizontally with a panel 3. It should be understood that the base 2 will be formed of suitable insulating material and will be preferably rectangular in shape. The panel 3 will, likewise, be formed of insulating material and may be of any desired thickness.

55 Carried on the base 2, at opposite sides thereof and at its upper surface, are longitudinally extending supporting blocks 4. The supporting blocks extend throughout the major portion of the length of the base 2 and terminate at their corresponding inner ends in reduced threaded 5 portions 5 which extend through the panel 3 and have nuts 8 thereon. The supporting blocks are screwed to the base by means of screws I. The blocks 4 will, as will be readily understood, eliectually support the base 2 on the panel 3. While 10 it is stated that the blocks extend throughout the greater portion of the length of the base 2,

it is apparent that these blocks need not be so long and, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, one of said blocks may terminate short of the other, if desired.

A yoke 8 is mounted on the base 2, in close parallel spaced relation to the shorter of the blocks 4, and said yoke has a base or bight portion 9 extending throughout the major portion of the length of the base 2. The base portion 9 is extended at I8 and is reduced at its extremity and threaded to project through the panel 3 and receive, at its outer end, a nut II which will effectually retain the yoke in position on the base 2. Moreover, tightening of the nut l I will aid the blocks 4 in supporting the base on the panel. Upstanding from the base or bight portion 9 of the yoke are spaced arms I2 and I3. These arms are adapted preferably to be formed integral with the bight portion but may, if desired, be screwed-- or otherwise secured to said bight portion. The arms I2 and I3 are rectangular in shape and relatively short. Extending through the upper end portions of the arms are pivot bolts I4 which extend inwardly over the bight portion and are adapted to support a contact member to be presently described. The pivot bolts I4 are retained in a given locked position in the arms I2 and I3 by means of lock screws I5 which are screwed downwardly through the upper ends of said arms.

The contact member of the control head of my improved voltage regulator is indicated in general by the numeral I6. The contact member is shown in detail perspective in Figure 4 of the drawings and is also shown clearly in the other figures of the drawings. Said contact member includes a rectangular central portion H which is adapted to be pivotally mounted between the bolts I4, said bolts being pointed at their free ends to ride freely in pivot sockets I8 in the opposite ends of said central portion. The central portion I! of the contact member I6 has integrally formed thereon an upstanding relatively short contact arm I9 which is substantially rectangular in cross section and is reduced in thickness toward its upper end. The contact arm is disposednear the outer end of the central portion which is to say, near the end of the yoke 8 nearest the free end of the base. The contact arm carries thereon, at its upper end, a contact 2|] and a stop bolt .2 I. The contact 20 is mounted toproject. laterally above the base in the direction or the vertical plane of the shorter of the blocks, which, for the purpose of clearness, will be: referred to as outwardly. The stop bolt 2| is formed with a head 22, said stop bolt and head being adapted to project inwardly. The contact member I6 is also provided with an integral lever 23 which is disposed at right angles to the contact arm I 9 and is disposed near the opposite end portion of the central portion of said contact member. The lever 23 is, like the contact arm 9, reduced toward its free end. The lever is provided, at its free end portion, with a hook 24. Formed in the lever 23, intermediate its length, is an opening 25.

The contact member l6 is adapted to carry an insulating block 26, which insulating block is secured to the central portion I! by means of screws 27. The insulating block may be formed of hard rubber or other suitable material, and, as best seen in Figure 1 of the drawings, is cut away at 28 to permit free rocking of the contact arm. The insulating block 26 is adapted to have mounted thereon a contact spring 29 which extends upwardly from the insulating block and terminates at a point above the contact arm |9. The contact spring extends in substantially parallel relation to the contact arm I 9 and said spring is secured to the insulating block by means of securing screw 30. The contact spring carries a contact 3| adapted to confront and cooperate with the contact 20 on the contact arm l9. A bolt 32 secures the contact 3| in place on the spring 29. Carried at the upper end of the spring 29 is a stop stud 33. The stop stud 33 is provided with an enlarged end surface 34 and said stop stud is held in place on the spring 29 by means of a screw 35. It will be apparent that rocking of the contact member |6 will also rock the contact spring 29 with the contact 3| and stop stud 33 thereon. The insulating block 26 is adapted to carry a connecting strap 36 which has one end thereof secured under the screw 36 and the other end secured to the nut 31. The nut 31 also retains in place a connecting lug 38. The connecting lug is adapted to receive one end of a pig-tail or flexible connector 39. The other end of said connector is connected to a lug 49 secured to the shorter of the connecting blocks 4 by means of a screw 4|. Effective connection will thus be established to the contact spring 29.

In order to permit positive connection being established between the arms I2 and E3 of the yoke and the contact member I5, I provide a flexible connector 42 which has one end secured to a lug 43 and its other end secured to a lug 44, which lug 44 is clamped beneath the screw I5. A lock screw 45 retains the lug 43 in place.

The base 2 is adapted to carry a standard 45 which comprises a base portion 46 and an upstanding arm 41. The base portion 46 is disposed in close parallel spaced relation to the longer of the supporting blocks 4 and said base portion is secured to the base 2 by means of a screw 48. The base portion is extended and reduced to extend through the panel 3 and held in place by a nut 49 screwed on the reduced portion thereof.

The upstanding arm 4'! may be formed integral with the base portion or may, as shown in the drawings, be formed separately therefrom and held in place by means of a set screw 50 which is screwed into the end of the base portion and is adapted to engage a pin formed on the lower end of the upstanding arm. The upstanding arm of the standard is provided, at its upper end, with a relatively large threaded stop stud which is screwed through the upper end of said upstanding arm and is adapted to confront the stop stud 33. The stop stud 5| is provided with a lock nut 52 which may be tightened for retaining the stop stud in any desired set position.

Carried by the standard at a point directly beneath the stop stud 5|, on the upstanding arm 41, is a relatively small stop bolt 53 which is provided with a lock nut 54.

The standard 45 carries a spring member 55 which is adapted to extend upwardly throughout the major portion of the length of the standard. The spring member is secured to the base portion of the standard by means of a bolt 56, and said spring member is offset medially of its length so that the upper portion of said spring member extends in substantially parallel relation to the upper portion of the standard. A relatively short spring 51 overlies the lower half of the spring member 55 and serves to provide strength for said lower portion. An adjusting screw 58 extends through the upstanding arm of the standard and has its inner end in engagement with the inner surface of the spring member 55 directly beneath the offset portion thereof. member 55 is adapted to carry, at its upper end portion, a relatively small insulating block 59 which is secured to the member 55 by means of a screw 69. The insulating block is adapted to confront the stop head 22 and the free end of the relatively small stop bolt 53.

As best seen in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a lateral arm 6| extends outwardly from the panel 3 in vertical alinement with the longer of the supporting blocks 4 and said arm 6| is substantially half the length of said relatively long supporting block. The arm 6| carries, at its free end, an adjusting screw 32, the lower end of which is adapted to support the upper end of a coil spring 63, the lower end of said coil spring being engaged in the hook 24 of the lever 23. The coil spring 63 is adapted to normally retain the contacts 20 and 3| in proper operative position in a manner to be described in more detail hereinafter.

Below the base 2, the control head carries a magnet coil which is indicated in general by the numeral 64. The magnet coil includes a solenoid plunger 55 which is formed with an integral plunger rod 66. The plunger rod is adapted to extend upwardly through the base 2, through the base portion of the standard 45 and is adapted to be anchored in the opening 25 in the lever 23, by means of a pin 67. The lower end of the solenoid plunger 65 is provided, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, with a guide pin 68 which is adapted to retain the solenoid plunger in proper position within the core so that the plunger will be permitted to shift upwardly and downwardlv within the coil.

Wound about the coil 64 is a primary winding 63 while, at the lower end of said magnet coil, a secondary winding 10 is wound. The primary winding is connected to the voltage output terminals of an alternator ll by means of conductors l2 and 13, The alternator is provided with a field winding 14 which is connected to an The spring exciter I5 by means of conductors I6 and TI. The alternator is provided with a field rheostat 18 interposed in the conductor 11. The exciter 15 is provided with an exciter field winding 19 and said exciter field winding is connected with the contact member I9 by means of a conductor 80. The other terminal of the exciter field Winding is connected to one terminal of an exciter field rheostat 8| by means of a conductor 82. The other terminal of the exciter field rheostat is connected to a conductor 83 leading from exciter, by means of a conductor 84. The opposite terminals of the exciter field rheostat are also shunted by a condenser 85 and said condenser and exciter field rheostat are connected in shunt to contacts 86 and 81. The contact 81 is carried on a movable armature 88 which is disposed above the core 89 of a third magnet coil 90 which includes a Winding 9|, The winding 9| has shunted thereacross a condenser 92 and has one terminal thereof, together with a corresponding terminal of said condenser 92, connected to the conductor 83. The other terminal of said magnet coil is connected to the contact spring 29 by means of a conductor 93. The armature 88 is supported on a suitable surface, above the third magnet coil, by a spring 94 having an outwardly bowed portion 95. The spring 94 serves effectually to mount the movable armature above the third magnet coil and, in order to regulate the response of said armature, I provide a coil spring 96 which has one end secured to said armature, near the spring 94, and the other end secured to a bolt 9! which is adjustably mounted in a post 98. The armature 88 is, in addition to carrying the contact 81, adapted to carry a contact 99 which is adapted to cooperate with a contact I00, in vertical alinement therewith, said contact 99 being disposed at the under side of the armature and the contact I being disposed beneath said contact 99.

The secondary winding I0 is connected to the contact 99 by means of a conductor I0 I The conductor |0I is also connected to one terminal of a variable resistance I02 which is provided with a movable contact I03, which movable contact is connected to the contact I00 by means of a conductor I04 The other terminal of the variable resistance is connected to the remaining secondary winding terminal by means of a conductor I05. A signal lamp I06 is shunted across the conductors |0I and I04.

The operation of my improved voltage regulator is as follows:

The primary winding 69 of the magnet coil 64 is energized by the voltage output of the alternator II, which is connected to said primary winding 69 by means of the conductors I2 and I3. The electro-magnetic flux set up in the primary winding 69 shifts upwardly the solenoid plunger 65, which will shift upwardly the solenoid plunger rod 66. As the solenoid plunger rod 66 is shifted upwardly, it shifts the lever 23 upwardly for rocking the contact member I6. The contacts 20 and 3| will thus be engaged. As the contacts 20 and 3| are interengaged, a current flow from the exciter I5,

to the third magnet coil 9| is established. The

third magnet coil will operate to shift the armature 88 downwardly and engage the contacts 99 and I00. At this time, the contacts 86 and 87, which are connected across the exciter field rheostat 8|, are open so that said exciter field rheostat is in the circuit. The presence of the exciter field rheostat in the circuit will cause the voltage output of the exciter to drop and,

at the same time, by virtue of the fact that the contacts 99 and I00 are closed, the signal lamp I06 will be shunted out of the circuit, as will the greater portion of the variable resistance I02. The signal lamp will, therefore, be extinguished and the effect of the secondary winding nullified. As the voltage of the alternator II drops, due to the lessening of the output of the exciter, the energization of the primary winding 69 will diminish so that the solenoid plunger 65, with the rod 66 thereon, will drop for rocking the lever 23 of the contact member I6 downwardly and engaging the stop studs 33 and for attracting the contacts 20 and 3|.

As the contacts 20 and 3| separate, the exciter voltage output to the third magnet coil will be broken so that said third magnet coil will be deenergized. De-energization of the third magnet coil will permit upward swinging of the armature 88 due to the action of the coil spring 96, and the disengagement of the contacts 99 and I00. At the same time, the contacts 86 and 81 will be engaged for short circuiting the exciter field rheostat so that the full voltage output of the exciter will be imposed upon the alternator field winding for again causing the alternator to gain in voltage output. While the contacts 99 and I00 are disengaged, the signal lamp I06 will be illuminated and the variable resistance I02 will function for regulating the resistance of the secondary winding which, as will be observed, is mounted at the lower end of and inductively coupled with the primary winding 69. As the exciter field rheostat is shunted out of the circuit and the voltage output of the exciter is accordingly increased, the operation above described will be repeated. That is to say, the alternator will again energize the primary winding for shifting the solenoid plunger and permitting the contacts 20 and 3| to engage, at which time, the third magnet coil 9| will again be energized for attracting the armature 88 and closing the contacts 99 and I00 for short circuiting the secondary winding I0 with variable resistance and signal lamp so that the effect of said secondary winding will be removed. At the same time, the exciter field rheostat is imposed in the circuit by the disengagement of the contacts 86 and 81 so that the exciter voltage output is reduced and consequently the alternator voltage output also reduced.

The operation of the contact member on the control head I, together with the armature 88, will take place at a high rate of speed so that raising and lowering of the voltage output of the exciter and alternator will also take place rapidly. The signal light will, under normal operation, flicker or flash intermittently, as the various contacts open and close.

With regard to the armature 88, it is desired to point out that this armature is effectually supported by the spring 94 in such a manner that, due to the bowed portion 95 of said spring, the armature will be permitted to adjust itself as to height. Moreover, greater flexibility for the spring 94 will be accorded, due to its formation.

Although the signal light I06 has been shown connected across the secondary winding I0, it should be understood that it can be connected across the terminals 86 and 81, to serve the same purpose, which is, as stated, signaling. If desired, the signal light can also be connected across the terminals 20 and 3|, with the same result. In any event, the signal light I06 could be placed across any set of contacts. The signal light is other.

for the purpose of giving a signal to the operator, who may be located at a reasonable distance from the device, the flickering of the signal light indicating that the voltage conditions are correct. It will be obvious that the signal light may be colored red or any other suitable color, so as to be readily distinguished at a distance. The human eye can read indications on the dial of a volt meter at a relatively short distance only, Whereas a flickering signal light connected in the circuit as in my invention can be seen at a considerable distance.

As hereinbefore stated, when the signal light flickers, operating conditions are correct, but should the signal light become extinguished or remain on continuously, indication is given that something has gone wrong in the circuit. If the signal light becomes extinguished it would indicate that the voltage of the alternator has risen above normal. On the other hand, when the signal light remains on continuously, it indicates that the voltage output of the alternator has fallen below normal.

A few remarks directed to the specific construction and operation of the control head are believed to be in order. I'he contact member i8 is of unitary construction. That is to say, the central portion H has formed integral thereon the contact arm i9 and the lever '23. Moreover, in addition to carrying the contact 26 and the stop bolt 2!, the contact arm also carries the insulating block 26 and the contact spring 29, which insulating block and contact spring are adapted to rock with the contact member. The contact spring also carries the stop stud 33 which is adapted for engagement with the relatively large threaded stop bolt 5| when the voltage drops and the solenoid plunger drops within the magnet coil core sufficiently to swing the lever 23 downwardly. As the stop studs 33 and Bi engage, the spring 29 is flexed rearwardly for momentarily breaking the contacts 253 and 3| and momentarily de-energizing the third magnet coil 9! for permitting short circuitingof the exciter field rheostat with consequent raising of the voltage of the exciter and consequently raising the voltage output of the alternator.

As the voltage of the alternator is raised, the primary winding 69 will be energized for rocking thecontact member [6 and again permitting the contacts 20 and 3! to engage, which operation will connect the third magnet coil in the circuit and also break the contacts 86 and 8'! for interposing the exciter rheostat in the circuit and lowering the voltage.

Attention is particularly directed to the fact that it is a purpose of this invention to provide circuit making and breaking means by the contacts 2E] and 3! in such a manner that no side wipe or rubbing effect will take place, as the contact spring 29 and the contact arm H? are united mechanically but electrically insulated from each The contacts 26 and 3! will engage one another in the same position whether they are pitted or not, as the pitting of the contacts or rough surfaces thereon would have no efiect upon the operation of the regulator whatever. Condensers are employed, however, to prevent sparking and damaging of the contacts.

It is believed that the construction and opera tion of my improved automatic voltage regulator will be clearly understood from the foregoing.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. In an automatic voltage regulator, a control head including a base, a yoke carried by the base, a contact member carried by the yoke and including a contact arm and a lever, means pivotally mounting the contact member in the yoke, a contact carried by the contact arm, a

standard carried by the base, a relatively long stop stud carried by the standard, a spring carried by the contact member and insulated therefrom, a contact carried by the spring and adapted to cooperate with said first mentioned contact, a second stop stud carried by the spring and adapted to cooperate with said first mentioned stop stud when the contact arm is shifted for setting the contacts, means mounting the control head on a panel, and circuit connections for said contacts.

2. In an automatic voltage regulator, a control head having a base, means mounting the base on a panel, a yoke carried by the base and having spaced arms, a contact member carried by the yoke, means pivotally mounting said contact member between said arms, said contact member having a contact arm and a lever, said contact member being operated by electrically operable means beneath the base connected with the lever for shifting said contact member, a contact carried by the contact arm, a contact spring, an insulating block connecting the contact spring with the contact member, a contact carried by the contact spring and adapted to cooperate with said first mentioned contact, a standard carried by the base, means carried by the standard and said spring for separating the contacts at shifting of the contact member, and circuit connections for said contacts.

3. In an automatic voltage regulator, a contact member having a substantially rectangular oblong central portion provided with an integral contact arm and an integral lever substantially right angularly disposed to said contact arm, an insulating block carried by the central portion, a contact spring carried by the insulating block and adapted to move with said insulating block and said contact member, means pivotally mounting the contact member, insulating block and spring in a yoke, and normally engageable contacts carried by the contact arm and contact spring, said contact spring being engageable at shifting of the contact member for separating the contacts.

4. In an automatic voltage regulator, a control head including a base, means mounting the base on a panel, a yoke carried by the base, a contact member pivotally mounted in the yoke and having a contact arm and a lever, a contact carried by the contact arm, an insulating block carried by the contact member and movable therewith, a contact spring carried by the insulating block and having a contact adapted to cooperate with said first mentioned contact, a stop stud carried by the contact spring, a standard, a stop stud carried by the standard, said contact member being shiftable by electrically operable means carried by the base for shifting the contact member and engaging the stop studs for flexing the spring away from the contact member whereby the contacts will be separated, a lateral arm carried by the panel, a spring connecting the lateral arm with the lever and being operable for controlling the resistance of said contact member, and circuit connections for said contacts.

5. In an automatic voltage regulator, a control head having a base, means mounting the base on a panel, a yoke carried by the base and having spaced arms, a contact member pivotally mounted.

on the base and having a contact arm, an integral lever carried by the contact member and having an opening, a contact carried by the contact member, said contact member being operable by a magnet coil carried below the base, a solenoid plunger provided with a plunger rod connected to the lever in the opening, a contact spring mounted on the contact member and insulated therefrom, a contact carried by the spring and adapted normally to engage said first mentioned contact, a standard carried by the base, means carried by the standard for engaging the contact spring at shifting of the contact member for separating the contacts, said contact member being shiftable by dropping of the solenoid plunger within the magnet coil at de-energization of said magnet coil, a spring member carried by the standard and adapted to limit swinging movement of the contact member, and circuit connections for said contacts.

6. In an automatic voltage regulator, a control head including a base, blocks connecting the base to a panel, a yoke carried by the base and having spaced arms, a contact member pivotally mounted in said spaced arms, means electrically connecting the contact member with the spaced arms, an insulating block carried by the contact member, a contact spring carried by the contact member, cooperating contacts carried by said contact spring and said contact member, a standard carried by the base and having an upstanding arm, a spring member carried by the standard and adapted to engage the contact member for limiting swinging movement thereof, means carried by the contact spring and the upstanding arm for flexing the spring away from the contact member at shifting of said member for separating the contacts, and circuit connections for said contacts.

MICHAEL DEBREY. 

